Tobacco stripping and booking machine.



N0. 662,-2I2." Patenied Nov. 20, |900.

J. R. WILLIAMS.

TOBACCO STRIPPING AND BOOKING MACHINE.

`(Application iled June 4, 1990".) (No Model.) Il Sheets-Sheet l.

( Jml. 712km i Amm/vir n. ss2,2|2. Patented Nav. 2o, |900.

J. n. WILLIAMS.

TOBACCO STRIPPING AND BOOKING MACHINE.

(Appl t ledJ 4 1900) m1 MM ,i L;

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fno. 662,212. y I Patented Nov. 2o, |900.

J. n. WILLIAMS.

TUBACCO STBIPPING AND BOUKIING MACHINE-I.

(Application led June 4, 1900.) (No Modl.) Il Sheets-'Sheet 3.

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No. 662,2I2. Patented Nov. 20, |900. J. R. WILLIAMS.

TOBACCO STRIPPING AND BOOKING MACHINE. (Application led June 4, 1900.) (No Modal.)

Il Sheets-Sheet 4l /Mllilll @IIN '//v VEN fof? A TTOHNEY wr. muws ruins co wom-ums WASHINGTON, n c

No. 662,2l2. v Patented Nov. 20, |900. J. R. WILLlAMS'.

TUBAGCO STBIPPING AND BOOKING MACHINE.

(Application tiled June' 4, 1900.) (No Model.) Il Sheets-Sheet 5.

lu/1M ATTORNEY we Norms paens co, PHOTO-uws., wAsmNureN. n. c.

No. 662,2I2. Patented Nov. 20, |900.'v

' J. R. WILLIAMS.

TUBACGU STRIPPING AND BOOKING MACHINE'. (Application-I lad June 4, 1900.)

(No Model.) Il Sheets-Sheet 6.

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No. 662,2!2. Patented Nov. 20, |900.

' I J. R. WILLIAMS.

TOBACCO STRIPPI'NG ANO BOOKING MACHINE.

(Application filed June 4, 1900.) (No Model.) `II SheeIs-Sheet 7.

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l l L l J A t I L I I l l 'Patented Nov. 2o, |900.

J. R. WILLIAMS. TosAcco sTmPPlN Ann BOOKING MACHINE. (Applicntion led June 4, 1900.)

`I1l` ""m`- No. 662,2I2.

(No Model.)

Wl TNE SS S THE MORRIS PETERS CO, PHOYDVLIYHD.. WASHINGTON. D. C.

0. 0 D, 2 V. o N d e t n e t a P S2 M M L L W R. J.

No. ee2,2|2.

TOBACCO STRIPPING AND BOOKING MACHINE.

' (Applicntion led June 4 1900.)

(No Modal.) Il Sheets-Sheet 9.

A TToH/vrr gW/TNESSES:

No. 662,2I2. Patented Nov. 20, |900.

J. R. WILLIAMS.

TOBACCO STRIPPINC AND BOOKING MACHINE.

(Application lmiune 4, 1900.) (llo Modal.) l1 Sheets-Shui I0.

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Arron/vir No. 662,`2|2. Patented Nov. 2o, |900.

l J. n. wlLLlAMs.

TOBACCO STRIPPING AND BOOKING MACHINE.

(Application led June 4, 1 900.)

ii Sheets-Sheet Il.

(No Model.)

//V VEN TOI? .foi/a. KMail/las BY I' Q A 77'0HNE Y UNITED STATES vPATENT OFFICE.

JOHN R. WILLIAMS, OF EAST ORANGE, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR 'IO 'PHE JOHN R. WILLIAMS COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y'.

TOBACCO STRIPPINO AND BOOKING MACHIN.

lS1?IilCIITICLACLION forming part of Letters :Patent No. 662,212, dated November 20, 1900.

Application led June 4, 1900.

T @ZZ whom, t may con/cern,.-

Be it known that I, JOHN R. WILLIAMS, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of East Orange, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tobacco Stripping and Booking Machines, of which the following is a specication.

The invention relates to improvements in tobacco stripping and booking machines; and it consists in the novel features, arrangement, and combinations of part-s hereinafter described, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

I have embodied my invention in themachine described herein and comprising, among other features, a feed-table, over which the tobacco-leaves are spread out and fed inward;

a pair of rotatory cutters arranged slightly below a slot in the said feed-table; a wheel for pressing upon the stem of the leaf during the inward feed of the latter for pressing said stem, or such portion thereof as may be desired, below the edges of said cutters in order that said stem, or such portion thereof as may be desired, may be cut from the leaf during the inward travel of the latter over said feedtable; means for adjusting the degree of pressure the aforesaid wheel shall exert upon the stein of the tobacco-leaf during the inward travel of the latter, and means for booking the leaves or the halves of the leaves after the stems have been removed therefrom, the said booking means comprising, by preference, a cylinder or drum mounted upon a shaft suspended by an oscillatory frame, and endless belts extending over said feed-table to said drum, thence extending around over said drum to a pointadjacent to that at which the leaves are Vfed inward over said table, thence turning in a reverse direction over suitable rollers and passing downward to means for keeping them taut, and thence extending upward to the front edge of said feedtable, the said belts being` continuous and one being located at each side of the central slot in the feed-table along which the stem of the leaf is fed.

lu addition to the general features of construction above pointed out the said machine embodies many novel details cooperating with ,Serial No. 18,945. (No model.)

the parts above enumerated and hereinafter described.

The invention will be fully understood from the detailed description hereinafter presented, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a side elevation of a stripping and booking machine constructed in accordance with and embodying the invention, a portion of the pedestal-base for the machine being broken away and a portion of the lower part of the feed-belts being omitted. Fig. 2 is a detached side elevation of a detailedportion of the machine and hereinafter specifically referred to. Eig. 3 is a side elevation, corresponding with Fig. l, of those portions of the pedestal-base and traveling feed-belts which are omitted in Fig. l. Fig. at is an end elevation of the frame connected with a presser-wheel which acts upon the stem of the tobacco-leaf and illustrates in detail the adjustable finger by which the relation of said presser-wheel to the stem of the tobaccoleaf may be regulated at will. Fig. 5 is a detached top view of said finger shown in Eig. t. Eig. 0 is a sectional view of the means for adjusting the pressure of the presser-wheel,said section being on the dotted line 6 6 of Eig. 4. Fig. 7 is a top View, partly broken away, of the entire machine. Fig. 8 is a front elevation, partly broken away, of a portion of same. Fig. i) is an enlarged vertical transverse section, partly broken away, through the feed-table and cutter-supports. Eig. l0 is a vertical longitudinal section through the machine on the dotted line l() lO of Fig, S. Fig. ll is a top view of a portion of the machine, the feed plate or table being partly broken away to disclose the knives below the same for removing the tobacco-stems and the belts which carryinward the tobacco-leaf being at the right-hand side of said figure indicated by dotted lines. Fig. l2 is a vertical longitudinal section of same on the dotted line l2 l2 of Fig. ll. Fig. I3 is a detached front view, partly broken away and partly in section. of a portion of the upper right-hand side of the machine and illustrates more particularly the means for transmitting power from the main driving-shaft to the bookingcylinder and to the other parts of the machine.

IOO

Fig. 14 is an end view ol same, the side frame of the machine being omitted and only the gears for transmitting the motion from the main drivingfshat't to the booking cylinder or drum being illustrated. Fig. 15 is an enlarged detached side elevation, partly broken away, of the cutting-knives and other parts. Fig. 16 is an end view of same, this ligure being partly in section through the socket for the shank oi' one of said knives and illustrating by dotted lines the presser-roller vlor pressing the stem of the tobacco-leaf (also shown) downward below the cutting-edges of the said knives, the said section of the said knife-shank socket being on the dotted line 16 1e ot 15. FiO. 17 is an enlarged detached front elevation of the hinged portion of the 'frame of the machine, said hinged portion being adapted to be moved upward when desired forfreeing the tobacco-leaves from the booking-cylinder. Fig. 18 is a vertical section ot' same on the dotted lines 1S 18 of Fifi'. 17. Fig. 19 is a side elevation ol' the main gear-wheel, through which power is transmitted tothe belt-rollers, feed -rollers, cutting knives, and presserroller. Fig. 2O is a detached side elevation of an adjust-able cam-section to be applied upon a hub of the gear-wheel shown in Fie'. 19 and comprising, together with a portion of said wheel, a cam-w ieel for controlling the presser-wheel which acts upon the stem of the tobacco-leaf. Fig. 21is asectional view of same on the dotted line 21 21 of Fig. 20. Fig. 22 is a vertical section, on the line 22 22 of Fig. 19, ot the wheel shown in Fig. 19 with the cam-section shown in Fig. 2O applied in position thereon and secured to rotate therewith. Fig. 23 is a side elevation, partly broken away and partly in section, of a portion of the machine, this ligure illustrating more particularly the details of the clutch mechanism connected with the d riving-wheel and main power-shaft. 2l is a sectional view of same on the dotted line 2st 2401? Fig. 23. Figs. 25 to 30, inclusive, are detailed views of the several inner parts oll the clutch on the main power-shaft, and said parts are specifically referred to hereinafter. Fig. 31 is a detached top view ol" the dog which upon each revolution of the booking cylinder or drum engages one part of the clutch mechanism and effects the stoppage of the ma chine. Fig. 32 is a side elevation of same. Fig. 33 is a top view of a dog shown in Figs. 1 and 23 and which may by a foot-treadle be caused to engage the clutch mechanism and stop the macl at any point during the rotation ol' the booking cylinder or drum. Fig. 34 is a side elevation ct' same. Fig. 35 is a vertical transve se section through a portion of the right-hand side of thc machine and is intended to illustrate more particularly the means for sounding an alarm when a predetermined numberot' leaves have been booked upon the booking cylinder or drum, it being customary to remove the stripped leaves 'from said cylinder or drinn every time the said leaves have accumulated thereon to the number of lftv. Fig. 3G isa vertical longitudinal section of same on the dotted line 36 3G of Fig. 35, and Fig. 37 illustrates by dotted line 35 the section on which Fig. is taken.

ln the drawings, 50 lenote the main side frames of the machine, said vframes being mounted upon a bed-plate 51, which is supported upon a pedestal-base 52, the latter being' more fully shown in Fig. The side frames 50 are simply of suitable form and outline to support the operative parts ol" the machine, and this invention is not limited to any special construction of side frames 50 or pedestal-base 52.

Extending transversely across the top of the side frames 50 is mounted in suitable bearings the main driving-shalt 53, upon the righthand end of which is provided the belt-wheel 54, by which power may be applied. Adjacent to the belt-wheel 54.- there is provided upon the right-hand end ol the driving-shalt 53 suitable clutch mechanism, hereinafter described, by which the said shaft is caused to automatically stop at the end of each revolution ot the booking cylinder or drum, thc said clutch mechanism being illustrated in detail in Figs. 23 to 30, inclusive.

Encompassing the driving-shaft 53 and extending between the side frames 50 is a tu bular cast casing 55, having at its ends adjacent to said side frames 50 the downwardlyextending arms 5G, in the lower ends of which is mounted the shaft 57, carrying the booking cylinder or drum 5S, the latter being a hollow shell supported at its ends upon the rims 50, secured to said shaft 57. The casing 55, having the arms 56 supporting the drumshaft 57 anddrum 5S, is free to have a limited axial motion within its bearings in the side 'frames 50, so as to allow the drum 58 to have a limited swinging or, with the arms 5h, oscillatory motion. The righ t-hand end of the drum-shaft 57 has secured upon it the gearwheel 60, (shown in Figs. 7, S, and 13,) and this gear-wheel 60 is in mesh with the pinion-wheel (il, mounted ugon a stud carried hy the righthand arm 56, as shown in Fig. 13, and in engagement with the broad gear-wheel (52, rigidly secured upon the main driving-shaft 53. The drum or cylinder 5S receives its rotary motion from the main driving-shaft 53 through the gear-wheel 452, pinion (il, and gear-wheel 60, the latter being secured on the drum-shaft 57. ln view ol the fact that the gear-wheel GO and pinion (51 may swing with the d ru m-shalt 57 and drum 5S, the said drum may have a limited backward-and-forwardswinging movement without interrupting the movement of the gear-wheels (52, Ul, and (50,

and consequently without interrupting its own rotation. The booking drum or cylinder 58 stops at the end of each revolution, as hereinbefore referred to. The gearwheel G2 simultaneously with the rotation ot` the cylinder or drum 58 imparts through the pinion-wheel G3 and gear-wheel G-fl (scc Fij.

.TOO

esame 3 13) the requisite motion to the other parts of the machine, as will be hereinafter explained, it being necessary at this place simply to say that the gear-wheel 64 is entirely independentof the gear-wheel and mounted upon a short shaft or stud 65, secured in the right-hand side frame 50 of the machine, said gear-wheel 64 being indicated by dotted lines in Fig. l, which is an elevation of the right.- hand side of the machine. Between tne front portions ofthe said frames 50 of the machine is secured the horizontal feed-table, composed of two parts 66 66, separated by a slot 67, Fig. 9, which slot constitutes the pathway for the stem ofthe tobaccoleaf, the latter when being conveyed to the machine being spread outward, as indicated in Fig. ll, with its stem disposed withinthe said slot 67. The front edges of the tablesections 66 curve downward, asindicated in Figs. 7, l0, ll, and l2, while the remaining portions of said table-sections extend horizontally inward and terminate adjacent to a roller 68, as more clearly shown in Figs. lO and l2, the upper edges of said roller 68 being about on a line with the upperpsurface of said table-sections 66 and being grooved in line with the slot 67, intermediate said table-sections, as indicated at 69 in Fig. l1, the groove 69 in said roller 68 being provided to permit of the convenient passage of the stem of the tobacco-leaf. At the extreme t'ront of the table-sections 66 and partly inclosed by the front curved port-ions of said sections is mounted the roller 70, which in line with the slot 67 intermediate said table-sections is provided with the annular groove 7l, this groove being also provided to facilitate the inward passage of the stem of the tobacco-leaf. Located labove the roller 70 is mounted the shaft .72, upon the central portions of which are secured rubber or other flexible or yielding rollers 73, the latter being adapted to turn with said shaft 72 and aid in feeding inward the tobacco-leaf. The rollers 73 have their adjacent ends separated from one another a slight distance, as shown in Fig. 7, corresponding with the groove in the roller 70 and the slot 67, intermediate the table-sections 66. The roller-shaft 72 is given a rotary motion from the main driving-shaft through a chain of gear-wheels, as hereinafter explained.

rThe belts for feeding inward and booking the tobacco-leaves are designated by the numeral 74, and these two belts pass over the rollers 70 and 68, above referred to, and are separated from each other at their adjoining edges, as shown in Fig. 7, a distance substantially equal to the widi h ofthe grooves in said rollers 70 and 68 and corresponding with the width of the slot 67, intermediate the tablesections 66, it being the purpose of the belts 74 totake the two halves of the tobacco-leaf and permit the stem to escape through a suit.- able chute 75 in the manner hereinafter described. The belts 74 are continuous and during the operation of the machine have a traveling motion over the rollers which support the same. 'ihe belts 7e, commencing with the frontroller 70, extend inward over the top of the table-sections 66, thence pass downward over the roller 68 and around the booking' cylinder or drum 5S to the roller 76, thence around said roller 76 and over the rollers 77 and 76, as shown in Fig. l0, and thence downward and around suspended beltpulley wheels 79, as shown in Fig. 6, thence upward over rollers 80, and thence toward the front of the machine and over rollers 81, from which said belts continue upward and around the aforesaid front roller 70 orto the point of beginning, as shown in Fig. lO, the said belts 74 being continuous and having a simultaneous motion and each of said belts at its suspended portion in rear of the machine pnssing over the pulleys 79. It is desirable that the belts 7i shall be kept under a yielding tension to accommodate the accumulation of leaves upon the booking cylinder or drum 5S, and hence the pulley-wheels 79 are provided in the suspended portion of said belts, as shown in Fig. 3, and said wheels 79 are each connected with a coiled spring S2, which is secured at its lower end by mea-ns of a hook 83, as shown in Fig. 3, and which affords a yielding tension for the belts 74, keeping the latter taut, but permitting a yielding of same around the booking cylinder or drum 5S whenever necessary. The acetimulation of stripped leaves will take place, owing to the stoppage oi' the booking cylinder or drum 5S at the end of each revolution, between the exterior surfaces of said cylinder or drum and the belts 74, and by reason of the varying thickness of thc accumulating tobacco-leaves on the cylinder or drum 5S during the formation of a book the said cylinder or drum is mounted between the swinging arms 56, so that said cylinder or drum 58 may yield rearward under the pressure of the tobacco-leaves. lt is desirable that 'the cylinder or drum shall have a yielding tension drawing it toward the roller 68 at the rear edge of the table-sections 66, and to this end iprovide at the left-hand side of the machine the coiled spring Se, as indicated in Figs. 7 and 19, one end of which is secured to the left-hand supportingarm 56 and the other end of which is secured to the left-hand side frame 50. The spring Sat simply serves to draw the booking cylinder or drum 56 toward the rear edge ofthe feed-table sections 66 and allows said cylinder or drum 5S to yield rearwardly under the pressure of the tobaccoleaves when the latter accumulate upon said cylinder or drum4 lt is also desirable that convenitmt means be provided for the removal of the book of tobacco-leaves after the same has been formed upon the cylinder' or drum 5S, and to this end the upper front roller 76, over which thc belts T-l travel, is mounted between the lower front ends of t frame con'igrising the armsy S5 S5 and shaft S6, the latter being freely mounted in bearings in IOO TIO

TIS

the side frames 50 and receiving upon its central portion the rollers 77, over which the belts 7e travel. The arms 85 are pinned to the shaft 8G, and the shaft S0 is free to turn in its bearing, and hence the arins S5 may be turned upward when desired, so as to carry the roller upward from the booking cylinder or drum 5S, so as to expose the front portion of the latter to enable the removal of the book from between said cylinder or drum and the belts 7e, encompassing the saine. 1n order that the roller 70 and arms S5, together with the parts carried by said arms, may be conveniently elevated, l provide upon the right-hand end of the shaft 8 the handle 87, (more fullyshown in Figs. 1, 2, 7, and 17,) said handle being shown in side elevation in Fig. 2 and being provided with apertures 88 and Si), by which, in connection with a pin Q0, extending out through the side of the machine, the said handle S7 may be locked in either its lower or its upper position. The roller 7h' and arms are shown in their lower p sition in Figs. 1 and 10, and when said parts arein their lower position the pin 90, Fig. 7, will extend through the side 'frame 50 and into the aperture 88 of the handle S7, this pin then serving to lock the handle S7, arms S5, and parts carried by said arms in their lower position. When it is desired to remove the book of leaves frein the cyliin or drum 58, the operator will grasp the outer portion of the handle S7, withdraw the pin 90 outward from the aperture 8S of said handle, and then draw the handle upward, thus elevating the arms 85 and the parts carried thereby, and when the handle 87 has reached its upper position it may be there locked by the insertion of the pin 90 into the lower receiving-aperture S0 of said handle. The arms S5, with the parts carried thereby, may be restored to their lower position by again drawing the )in 90 outward to relieve it from the aperture 89 of the handle S7 and allow said handle and said arins S5 to descend to their former position, (shown in Fig. 10,) where they will be se cured by the reinsertion of the pin 00 into the aperture 8S of said handle S7.

The hinged arms S5, carrying the roller 7U, carry at their lower front portion the hood 01, (shown in sect-ion in Fig. 10 and illustrated in greater detail in 7, 17, and 18,) which hood partly incloses the roller 76 and has mounted between the sides ot' its lower portion brush-shaft 02, carrying the brush 053, and at its right-hand end the said hood 01 covers the gear-wheels 11-, 05, and 00, (indicated by full lines in Fig. 18,) the gear-wheel 96 being on the end of the brush-shaft 92, the gear-wheel 05 being an idler, and the gearwheel .14 being on the end o1' the roller 70. Vhen the arms S5 are in their lower position, the gear-wheel 00 will be in engagement with the large gear-wheel (A, herein before referred to, which 'is :tetue-,ted from the main drivingshaft 53 and which when the machine is in Operation will iinpart motion through the gear-wheel 90 to the brush 93, and also through said gear-wheel S10, idler 95, and gear-wheel 9-l to the roller 70', upon which the belts 7l travel. The belts 74, thus at the roller 70 as well as at the roller 70, as hereinafter eX- plained, have motion imparted to them simultaneously with the rotation of the brush 93, which acts against the belts 7las the latter move over the roller 7G, Fig. 10, and prevents the stripped leaves from traveling` outward and upward with said belts, said brush b3 moving the leaves inward against the drum 5S. The rollers 77, 78, 7.0, S0, S1, and 08, over which the belts 71 travel, siinply turn freely and have no power imparted to them other than that which causes them to revolve by the friction of the traveling belts 7s. The front roller 70, however, has power transmitted to it from the driving-gear (il through the gear-wheel 07, (see Fig. 1,) which is engaged by the driving gear-wheel 0land engages the idler U8, which is in mesh with the gear-wheel 90, located at the end of the shaft of the said roller 70. he roller 70 imparts traveling motion to the belts 71 and, as indicated, receives its motion from the main driving-shaft through the gear-wheel 02 thereon, the pinion-wheel 63, Fig. 13, gear-wheel 6:1-, gear-wheel 07, Fig. 1, idler 08, and gear-wheel .lh. Thus the traveling belts 7l receive their power from the driving gear-wheel (il through the front roller 70 and the roller 70, the latter being between the lower portions of the swinging arms S5, and said belts 71- are, as above explained, kept taut upon the rollers hereinbefore referred to by means of the springs S2, connected with the rollers 79, located in the bend of the roar suspended poi'- tion of said belts. rlhe gear-wheel 00, by which the roller 70 is actuated, engages the pinion-wheel100, Fig. 17 which is on the shaft 72 of the feed-rollers 7J-l, the latter, as shown in Fig. l0, being directly over the roller 70 and in near relation to the then upper surfaces of the adjacent portion of the belts 7/l. The rollers 73 are feed-rollers and cooperate with the belts 711. in carrying inward the tobacco-leaves.

Centrally over the vfeed-table and arranged to partly enter the slot G7 intermediate the sections 6h' of said table is mounted the presser-wheel 101, which is adapted to engage the stems of the inwardly-fed leaves and is secured upon the inner end of the presserwheel shaft 102, (see Fig. 7,) which has upon its outerend the gear-wheel 1021, by which said shaft 102 and presser-wheel 101 are rotated. The gear-wheel 103 receives its lnoiiou from the aforesaid gem-wheel 97 through the pinion-wheel 104C, in engagement with said gearwheel 07, and the idler 105, which engaged by said pinion-wheel 1.0i, and itself engages said pinion-wheel 103 on the end of the presser-wheel shaft 102. rEhe presser-wheel shatt102,togethcr with the gear-wheel 103 and idler 105, is carried by a cast frame 10G, which is loosely hung upon the shaft 107 and lOO having at its right-hand end the arm 108, (shown in detail in Fig. 4,) which carries the adj nsti ng- [i n ger 109, the latter being` adapted, as indicated in Fig. 1, to contact with the periphery of a wheel 110, (see Figs. 19 to 22, inclusive,) composed of the cam-section 111 and rim 112, the latter being formed, as shown in Fig. 22, integral with and at the outer side of the large driving gear-wheel 044 During the operation of the machine the wheel 64 rotates, and in consequence the wheel 110 will likewise rotate and its periphery will move against the inner end of the finger 109, carried by said arm 108, which is integral with the frame 106. The frame 106 is loosely mounted upon the shaft 107 and is adapted to have a hinged or oscillatory motion thereon when moved. The form of the periphery of the wheel 110 and the relation of the arm 108 to said periphery control the relation of the presser-wheel 101 to the slot 67 between the table-sections 66, and in consequence control the pressure that said wheel 101 shall exert upon the stem of the tobacco-leaves fed into the machine. The linger 109, carried by the arm 108, is kept in firm but yielding contact with the periphery of the wheel 110 by means of a coiled spring 113, (see Fig. 4,) one end of which is secured t-o the arm 108 and the other to the side frame of the machine. The linger 109 is adapted to move within a guide at the upper inner end of the arm 108 and is slotted, as shown in Fig. 5, at 114 to admit the screws 115 (shown in Fig. 4) without interference with its own sliding motion. The outer front end of the linger 109 is bent over at an angle, as shown in Fig. 4, and receives the adjusting-screw 116, which enters the body of the arm 108 and which when turned in one direction will push the linger 109 toward the rim of the wheel 110 and when turned in the other direction will draw the said finger 109 in a direction frontward from said wheel. No matter what the position of the screw 116 may be during its inward and outward adjustment the spring 113 will always retain the inner point or end of the linger 109 against the rim of the wheel 110, and

hence so far as the adjustment of the finger 109 is concerned it will be evident that when the nger 109, by means of the screw 116, is adjusted outward from the wheel the arm 108 will move nearer inward toward said wheel with the effect of turning the front portion of the cast frame 106, carrying' the presser-wheelshaft102 and presser-wheel 101 upward, thus moving the presser-wheel101 more or less upward in accordance with the degree of adjustment that may be given to the linger 109. Then by means of the screw 116 the linger 109 is moved toward the rim of the wheel 110, the stress of the spring 113 will be overcome and the arm 108 will turn upward toward the front of the machine with the effect of causing the castI frame 106 at its front portion to move correspondingly downward, whereby Ithe presser-Wheel 101 will be caused to pass farther downward within the slot.l et\veen the table-sections 60. 'lhus assuming that the rim of the wheel 110 is continuous and uniform, which may readily be the case, the exact relation of the presserwheel 101 to the stems of the tobacco-leaves fed into the machine maybe controlled at will by simply adjusting the linger 109 in its relation to the wheel 110 by means of the screw 116. Diiferent quantities of tobacco-leaves will differ in character and in the uses to which they are to be put, and hence it is highly desirable that the presser-wheel 101 be capable of adjustment with relation to the pressure which it shall apply upon the stems of the tobacco-leaves fed inward to the machine.

The knives Afor removing the stems from the leaves are numbered 117 and 118, respectively, and they, as hereinafter more fully described, are located below the table-sections 66 and have their meeting edges in line with the slot 67, intermediate said table-sections and in rear of the lower central portion of the presser-wheel 101, and it is the purpose of said presser-wheel 101 while the halves of the spread-out tobacco-leaves are being carried inward over said table-sections to press the stem of the leaf downward, so that said stein shall be cut from the leaf by means of said knives 117 and 118. It will be seen, therefore, that it is in many instances desirable that said presser-wheel 101 may be adjusted vertically, so that it may be adapted to the varying conditions of tobacco-leaves and be so regulated as to enable the removal of the whole or any special portion of the stems from the leaves. In the absence ofthe presser-wheel 101 the leaves would be fed inward over the table-sections 66 without having their stein removed, but with the employment of the presser-wheel `101, engaging' the stems of the leaves as said leaves are conveyed inward, the said stems are pressed downward between the table-sections 6,6 to a sufficient extent to be removed by the knives 117 and 118. It is probably apparent that by adjusting the finger 109, connected with the frame 106, carrying the presser-wheel 101 and its shaft 102, the amount of pressure which the wheel 101 shall exert upon the stem of the tobacco-leaf may be regulated at will, and hence that by regulating the relation of the wheel 101 to the tobacco-leaves the stems may be very cleanly cut from the leaves without consuming any appreciable portion of the web part of the leaves, thus securing economy in the stemming of the leaves. I have found by experience in the operation of the machine shown in this application that the stems may be so cleanly cut from the leaves that none of the available portion of the latter is wasted, and that when desired I may even leave the skin of the stem connecting the two halves of the leaves, the lower and inner wood portion of the stem being removed. The presser-wheel 101 may be so lOO nicely adjusted that instead of removingthe stem entirely from the leaf the said stem may be simply split throughout its length without the two halves of the leaf having been separated .from one another. 1 mention these facts at this place so as to indicate the desirability of the adjustable feature o1' the presser-wheel 101. A further adjustment of the presser-wheel 101 may be attained with the use of the present machine, so that said wheel will not commence its action upon the tobacco-leaf until the fine end portion of the same has for a predetermined distance been conveyed inward beyond the influence of the knives 117 and 118, and this further adjustment may by hand be accomplished by means of the screw 116 and adjustable finger 109; but said adjustment is preferably secured by so conforming the periphery of the wheel 110, which contacts with said finger 109, that said finger may be allowed during a predetermined period to remain at aninward position under the force of the spring 113 sufficient to insure the proper elevation during said period of the wheel 101 above the tobaccoleaf, allowing the latter during said period to be fed inward over the table-sections 00 without its central portion being pressed downward through the slot 07, intermediate the table-sections, and consequently without meeting the knives 117 and 118 As a means for accomplishing this adjustment of the wheel101 by means of the conformation of the periphery of the wheel 1 construct said wheel of the cam-section 111 and rim 112, as more clearly indicated in Figs. 19 to 22, inclusive, and in which it will be seen that the cam-section 111 hasits periphery recessed or cut from a true circle, as at 119, and that said cam-section is provided with slots to receive screws 121, by which the cam-section is secured against the outer face of the wheel 6-1 and in line with the rim 112 of said wheel. The wheel 0e is formed with a hub 122, upon which the cam-section 111 is placed and around which said earn-section maybe adjusted at will by reason of the slots 120 and screws 121. The rim 112 of the wheel Ge has its periphery recessed or turned from a true circle, as at 123, (see Fig. 19,) the recess 123 conforming with the recess 119 ofthe camsection 111. lWhen the cam-section 111 is placed on the hub 122 in such position that its recess 119 shall tally with the recess 123 of the rim 112, it will be apparent that for the length of said recesses the circular periphery of the wheel 110 will be broken, and that during the rotation of said wheel the adjustable linger 109, carried bythe arm 108 and cast frame 100, will when the recesses 119 and 123 reach the saine pass into said recesses, the spring 113, connected with the arm 108, pulling said linger 109 into the recesses. During the presence of the recesses 119 and 123 of the wheel 110 at the linger 109, the latter then beingl in an inward position, the front portion of the frame 10G and the presser-wheel 101 will be in an elevated position, said wheel 101 then not boing against the tobacco-leaf. ln order that this portion of the construction may be clearly understood, l will explain that the recesses 119 and LS of the wheel 110 are so disposed with relation to the booking` cylinder or drum 5S that when the latter reaches the end oi' its revolution the deeper portion of said recesses 119 and 128 reach the finger 109 and permitthe latterto enter the same. Thus every time the machine comes to a stop at the end of each revolution of the drum 5b' the adjusting-finger 109 enters the deeper portion of the said recesses 119 and 123 of the wheel 110 and the presser-wheel 101 elevates, this being its normal at-rest position. Uien the machine again starts in motion, the line or pointed end of the tobacco-leaf is conveyed inward upon the belts 74 and below the rollers 73, and at the same time the wheel 110 starts in motion and the recesses 119 and 123 have the end of the adjlisting-linger109, and during the rotation of the wheel 110 and while said recesses have said linger 109 the presserwheel 101 will remain elevated, and during` this period of elevation of said presser-wheel the leaf may feed inward without coming` into Contact with the knives 117 and 11S. Thus Ali'or a period governed by the length of the reoesses 119 and 1225 of the wheel 110 the tobacco-leaf may feed inward without being acted upon either by the presser-wheel 101 or knives 117 and 11S. 'Vhen, however, the end of the recesses 119 and 123 of the wheel 110 is reached, the adjusting-finger 109 will be forced outward upon the circular periphery of the wheel 110, and then during the continued rotation of said wheel the presserwheel 101 will beheld in its lower position against the tobacco-leaf with the effect of causing the siem of said leaf to be acted upon by the knives 117 and 11S. 'lhus by means of the construction of the wheel 1.10 the operator may permit the leaf to feed inward for a predetermined distance without being acted upon by the knives 117 and 118, and this is importanton some occasions, especially where the leaves are to be used for filler purposes, since thereby the good end portion of the leaves are not wasted by being cut into by the knives 117 and 118, while the objectionable stem portions are removed by said knives, said knives beginning to eut the stem from the leaf as soon as the recesses 119 and 123 of the wheel 110 passes from the adjusl ing-linger 109 and forces said linger outward, and thereby turns the cast frame 1015 and presserwheel 101 front\\ard and donuiward. It is of course desirable that the length of time the presser-wheel 101 shall remain ou t of contact with the stem ofthe tobacco-leaf shall be regulated,and hence l provide that the cam-section 111 ofthe wheel 110 shall be adj ustableaxially upon the hub 122, Figs.19 to 2l, incl usive,and that the end of the adjusting-linger 119 shall be wide enough to engage the periphery of both the cani-section 111 and adjacent rim 112.

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Vhen the recess 119 of the cam-section 111 exactly tallies with the recess 1223 of the rim 112, the longest recess attainable in the periphery of the wheel 110 will. be secured, and to shorten this recess,so that the presser-wheel 101 shall not for so long a period remain elevated above the tobacco-leaf, itis only necessary to loosen the screws 121 and adjust the cam-section 111 axially on the hub 122, so that the recess 119 in said cam-section will partly cover the recess 123 in said rim 112, thereby shortening the recess in the periphery of the wheel 110 and limiting the period at which the finger 109 shall remain inward and the presser-wheel101 upward. As the end of the iinger109 is broad enough to engage the edges of both the cam-section 111 and rim 112 the said finger will not spring inward into the recess of the periphery of the wheel 110 until it reaches a point at whichthe recesses 119 and 123 are in line with one another. Thus if the cam-section 111 were assumed to be upon the hub 122 of the wheel (shown in Fig. 19) and turned so that the middle portion of said recess 119 were brought to the deeper or first portion of the recess 123 of the rim 112 the end of the adj usting-nger 109 could not enter either recess until it reached the said first portion of the recess 123, when it would enter both recesses together. The result of this adjustment of the cam-section 111 would be that the length of the combined recess formed by the tallying portions of the recesses 119 and 123 would be shortened by about onehalf, and consequently during the subsequent rotation of the wheel 64E and wheel 110 the adjusting-finger 109 would not remain atitsinward position for so great a period and the presser-wheel 101 would not remain from contact with the tobacco-leaf so great a period of time. Thus by adjusting the cam-section 111 upon the hub 122 the length of the recess .in the periphery of the wheel 110 through A of leaf which may be fed inward below and without contacting with the presser-wheel 101 may be absolutely controlled, since the longer the recess in the wheel 110 the greater period will the presser-wheel 101 remain elevated and the more extended will be the length of leaf which will feed inward without being acted upon by the knives 117 and 11S. The presser-wheel 101 may be thus adjusted to a nicety by means of the finger 109 and screw 110, Fig. 4, and may also be subject to regulation by means ol' the formation of the periphery of the wheel 110. lVhen the recess 119 of the cam 111 is drawn entirely from all tally with the recess 123 of the rim 112, the wheel 110 will have a continuous uniform circular periphery on which the linger 109 will travel, and at such time all of the adjustment of the presser-wheel 101 will have to be secured by means of the adjusting-screw 11o', and this condition of the machine will be found useful when it is desired to remove all of the stem from the tobacco-leaves and split said leaves from end to end into two halves, the halves of the leaves being carried inward upon the belts 74 and booked in rights and lefts for wrappers. Even when it is desired to thus split the leaves in halves from end to end it will not be necessary to have the continuous circular periphery on the wheel 110, since it is convenient to have a recess in said wheel `110, so that when the machine comes to a stop at the end of each revolution of the drum S the presser-wheel may elevate slightly and remain elevated until the point of the succeeding leaf to be conveyed inward during the next rotation of 'said drum 58 may reach or about reach said presser-wheel be fore the latter descends, thus giving the belts 7i-,in conjunction with the rollers 73,*an opportunity to feed inward a portion of the end of the leaf to the presser-wheel 101 before the latter descends to deliver the stem of the leaf to the knives 117 and 11S. where the periphery of the wheel 110 is provided with a recess to receive the end of the finger 109 this recess will be arranged to receive said finger at the time the booking cylinder or drum 5S completes its revolution and comes to a stop, so that the normal at-rest position of the presser-wheel 101 will be with said wheel slightly elevated. The wheel 110, being connected with the driving-gear wheel (ist, will of course rotate with the latter.

During the adj ustment of the presser-wheel 101 with relation to the tobacco-leaf the castframe 100, carrying said wheel and its shat't 102, has a pivotal motion upon the shaft 107, upon which the gear-wheel 104 is secu red,and hence the adjustment of the presser-wheel 101 and the movement of the cast-frame 100 has no tendency whatever to disengage either the gear-wheel 104. from the gear-wheel 97 or to break the gear connection between the gearwheel 103 on the presser-wheel shaft 102 with the gear-wheel a.

The knives 117 and 118 have been hereinbefore referred to with respect to their relation to the feed-table sections 66 and pressen wheel 101,and these knives are probably more clearly illustrated in Figs. 9, 10,11, 12,15,and 10, in which it will be seen that the said knives are in the form of disks secured upon the upper ends of spindles 130 130,which are seated in rotatory sleeves or sockets 131, mounted in a substantially vertical position within bearing-apertures formed in a transverse casting-frame 132 extending transversely between the side frames of the machine and below the feed-table sections 6G. The transverse frame 1252 may be of anysuitable construction. The rotatory sleeves 131 have the knife-spindles 130 secured to rotate with them by means of pins 133,which enter either vertical slots 1311:, formed in the knifespindles, said pins 1233 compelling the knifespindles 130 to rotate with the sleeves 131,and said slots 134E permitting said knife-spindles to have limited vertical motion or adjust- In every instance lOO IIO

nient. The edges of the knives 117 and 118 overlap or engage each other7 so as to el'lect the cutting of the stems from the tobaccoleaves, and upon the hubs oi said knives are the rubber coverings 135, which constitute rollers traveling with the said knives and adapted to engage and leed inward the stems as the latter are cut i'rom the tobacco-le The rollers 135 are solely for engaging the stems ot' the tobacco-leaves and feeding said stems inward to the upper end of the chute 75, by which said stems are directed laterally from the machine, the trend or direction of said chute, which is simply a hollow delivery, being indicated in Figs. 7, 10, and 11. The upper end of the aforesaid chute 75 is directly in the rear of the rubber stem-feeding rollers 135, and the lower end of said chute 75 will terminate at any convenient point to one side of the machine. Since the rubber rollers 1255 are on the hubs oi' the knives 117 and 118, said rollers will only act when said knives :a re in motion, and hence said rollers will not injure the tobacco-leaves, but, owing to their position adjacent to the cutting edges ol and their timing with the tnives, will by drawing inward on the tolatcCo-stt-iins aid said knives in the correct performance of their-duty. rlhe lower ends ot' the re-t'atory sleeves 131 carry bevel gear-wheels 13G in engagement'l with the bevel gear-wheels 137 on the transverse shaft 138, as more fully shown in Fig. 0, and when the machine is in operation andthe shaft 1238 is rotating the motion of the latter will be coininunicated th rough said bevel gear-wheels 137 and bevel gear-wheels 186 to the rotator-y sleeves 131 and knife-spindles 130, with the result that the knives 117 and 118, with their stein-feeding rollers 135, will have the proper rotary motion toward one another to effect the proper severance and inward feeding of the tobacco-stems. The shatt138 for driving the knives 117 and 118 receiv s its motion from the large driving gear-wheel (51 through the gear-wheel 97 (seo Fig. 1) and pinion 130, the latter being on the outer or right-hand end of the shaft 138 and being in engagement with the gear-wheel 07. The knili'e 118 has its edge below the edge of the knile117, and the spindle oi the knife 118 has provided n pon it the coiled spring110, which presses ul'iward against said spindle and serves to keep the edge ol the knife 118 iirinly though yieldingly in contact with the edge of the kn'ite 117. The knives 117 and 118 are disposed at a slight angle to one another-that is, the knife 117 is slightly tilted 'frontward and downward and the knife 118 is slightly tilted rcaiwva rd and downward, the tilting of the knives 117 and 118 being thus in opposite directions and causing their edges te eiigage one another at apoint in advance of a horizontal line extending centrally across said knives. rEllis tilting of the knives 117 and 118 illustrated in Figs. 15 and 1G on a somewhat-exaggerated scale, since the tilting ol' tue said knives is of so limited an extent that if shown with @oasis technical accuracy it probably would not be discovered with the naked eye. The upper surfaces of the knives 117 and 118 are substantially horizontal, the tilting oli' said knives from the horizontal position being only to an extent equal to about ['roni two to live one-thousandths ol' an inch. This tilting of the knives 117 and 118, although slight, is o very great importance in that the knives are thereby the better enabled to cleanly eu t the stem from tne tolntcco-li-faves, their edges are automatically kept in a clean and sharpened condition, and said knives at a point to the front ol the horizontal central line passing through them contact at substantially a single point7 which is ol' very great advantage both as regards the elllectiveness and longevity ot' the knives. The knives 117 and 118 rotaie toward one another and, as hereinbefore explained, are 'oelow the feed-table sections (50 and in rear of the central vertical plane ol. the presserwheel 101. During the inward travel oi the tobacco-leal the periphery of the presserwheel 101 engages the stein ol the leaf and presses the saine downward to a su ilicicnt cx.- tent for the knives 117 and 118 to cut said stem i'roin the leal"7 the stems being l'ed inward by the stein-feed rollers Q35 and the halvs oi" the leaf being l'ed inward by the belts 71- and inner feed-rollers 207, carried by the shaft 107.

l have described hereinbetore all ol. the operative features ofthe machine made thc suhject of this application, with the exception of the clutch mechanism and belt or alarm mechanism, and such mechanisms will be hereinafter described.

lt is appropriate at this point to a little more Vfully rel'cr to the operation of the machine, as hereinbelfore described, it being understood that the driving-shaft is autoinatically arrested at the completion of each rotation oi the booking cylinder or drum 58. The machine having been started in motion and the presser-wheel 101 having` been adjusted as desired, in the manner hereinbelorc described, the leali' of tobacco will be spread outward, as indicated in Fig. 11, and have its pointed end presented upon the belts 74.- at the lront edge of the li'eed-table sections (56. The belts 7ltravel inward and the vfeeda'ollers 78 rotate, a. d between these belts and said rollers the leal will be carried inward below the presser-wheel 101, said wheel 101 during theinward travel ol theleal pressingthe stem port-ion of the leaf downward into the slot between the said table-sections (5G in order that the stern ol the leafmay pass into the path of thethen rotating cutters or knives 117and118. During the inward travel oi' the tobaccodeaf the knives 117 and 118 will remove the stem therefrom, and the stem will be caused t0 leed inward, owing to the contact oil the rubber stein-feeding rollers 185 therewith. rlhe stein ot' the tobacco-leaf will by means oi? the rollers 10o be pushed inward into the upper end of the chute 75 and be directed through the latter to its lower discharge end, where the stems one after another will fall from the machine. The two halves of the tobacco-leaf will continue to move inward upon the belts 74 and be by said belts carried downward and upon the booking cylinder or drum b', where they will remain to be booked. The leaves are one after another fed inward over the feed-table section 66, and. the stripped halves of the leaves are allowed to accumulate upon the drum 58 until a hook of the desired predetermined number of the leaves has been formed upon the said drum. The drum 5S stops at the end of each revolution, and during each revolution said drum receives one leaf, the leaves arranging themselves automatically upon one another intermediate the surfaces of the drum and the adjoining` surfaces of the belts 74. After each leaf has been admitted upon the drum 58 and the machine has stopped the operator simply by pressing on the foot-treadle, as hereinafter described, restarts the machine. After the book comprising the required number of stripped leaves has been formed upon the cylinder 58 the operator will withdraw the pin 90 from the handle 87 and move the arms 85 35, carrying the roller 76 and hood 91, to

their upward position, where said parts will be held by the insertion of the pin 90 into the loweraperture 89 of saidhandle 87, and thereupon the operator will withdraw the book of leaves from off the cylinder or drum 58 by allowing the cylinder 58 to make one rotation to feed said book outward from itself, and then the operator will restore the handle 87 and arms 35, withl the parts carried by said arms, to their lower positiomtshown in Fig. 1,) securing or locking said parts in their lower position by the insertion of the pin 90 into the aperture SS of said handle S7. The machine will then be in condition to be continued in use in stripping and booking the leaves. The cylinder or drum 5S receives its motion from the gear-wheel 62 on the main drivingshaft 53 through the pinion-wheel 61, Fig. 13, and gear-wheel 60, the said gear-wheel 60 being fastened upon the shaft 57 of said drinn 5S. All of the other parts of the machine which are driven by power receive their motion from the gear-wheel 62 on the drivingshaft 53 through the pinion 63, driving gearwheel 64, and the other chains of gearing which have been hereinbefore specifically described and are connected with said driving gear-wheel 64. The adjustment of the presserwheel 101 is effected by the adjustable finger 109 in connection with the wheel 11(),carried by the said driving gear-wheel 64, and the manner of effecting the adjustment of the said presser-wheel 101 has been fully explained hereinbefore.

The clutch mechanism on the main driving-shaft 53 is illustrated in detail in Figs. 23 to 30, inclusive, and, as may be observed in said figures, the beltwheel 54 is loosely mounted uponthe shaft 53 and is formed with the annular rim 141, which is notched or toothed on its inner surface, as shown in Fig. 23, and which at its outer edge is engaged by the plate 142, as shown in Fig. 24, said plate 142 being integral with the ratchet-wheel 143 on the driving-shal`t Upon the drivingshaft 53 within the chamber formed by the rim 141 of the belt-wheel 54 is secured the block 144, (shown in position in Figs. 22 and 24 and in detail in Figs. 29 and 30,) which block 144 has pivotally mounted upon it the dog 145, whose engaging outer end is normally pressed outward toward the rim 141 by means of a spring 146, seated within the block 144. Upon the inner face of the plate 142, carried by the ratchet-wheel 143, are formed the projections 147 14S, as shown in Figs. 25 and 26, and when the plate 142 is against the rim 141 of the belt-wheel 54 the projection 147 passes below the shank end of the dog 145 and the projection 148 is disposed iu near relation to the angular end 149 of the block 144. Vhen the parts of the clutch arein position,the dog 145 will by reason of the spring 146 engage the notched rim 141 of the belt-wheel 54, and when said dog is thus in engagement with the rim 141the motion of the beltwheel will be imparted through said dog 145 and block 144 to the driving-shaft 53, with the resultI that said shaft will be rotated and the machine set in motion. When, however, the ratchet-wheel 143 is arrested by the means hereinafter described, its plate 142 then being stationary, the spring-pressed pin or buffer 247 in the projection 147 on said plate will engage the shank end of the dog 145 and turn said dog upon its pivot, so that its outer end will hecome freed from the rim 141, and at this time, the plate 142 being stationary and the dog 145 being free of said belt-wheel 54, the latter will continue in motion without rotating the driving-shaft 53. In order to restore the engagement of the dog 145 with the rim 141 on the belt-wheel 54, it will simply be necessary to release the means holding the ratchetwheel143 and plate 142 stationary, and upon this being done, said wheel 143 and plate 142 being free on the shaft 5o, the spring 146 will force the outer end of the dog 145 into reengagement with the rim 141 of the belt-wheel 54, and thereupon, as before, the motion of the belt-wheel 54 will be communicated to the driving-shaft 53 and the machine set in motion. The detailed form of the dog 145 is shown in a bottom view in Fig. 27 and in a side View in Fig. 2S, and the ratchet-wheel 143 and its plate 142 are shown in horizontal section in Fig. 25, said section being on the dotted line 25 25 of Fig. 26, which shows the inner face of said plate 142 with the projection 147 in section.v The clutch mechanism shown in Figs. 23 to 30, inclusive, will be found entirely satisfactory; but l do not of course limit the invention to this special clutch mechanism, since various forms of clutch mechanism are well known for stop- IOO IIO 

